William Franklin "Willie" Stump was born 9 May 1874 in Montgomery County to Wesley Stump and an unknown woman. At age 2 1/2 Hiram Pratt's wife, Eliza Shaw Pratt and a friend went to visit the Montgomery County Poor Farm. They had no children and when visiting, she and Willie nurtured a complete and wonderful bond. Soon after, Hiram and Eliza "adopted" Willie as their foster son and raised him. Whether it was ever a court adoption, I'm not sure, but he was raised as Willie Pratt and died as such. He grew-up in a solid church environment, was high in academics, played piano and a juice harp. However, when he was 12, Eliza died of six large stomach tumors. From then on, Willie went down hill. He was sent to reform school for stealing $2 from Hiram's second wife, Eva McMains. His sentence was a year in Michigan City but because he was only 17, the term was to stay at the Pendelton Reformatory until age 21. He only served about two years, came home, was a good man and died of consumption just short of his 21st birthday in Hiram's arms. Many times Hiram Pratt says in the 14 existing diaries of his that he visited "Little Willie's grave." Here is proof as to its location in the Methodist Cemetery. Sunday August 11 - I was at Sunday school at the usual hour of the morning contributed 5 cts. Before entering the room I called at the grave of poor little Willie. His grave appears to me as very lonesome. I wish I was able to put up a small tombstone someday. I hope to do this. His grave may be found by passing through the cemetery straight west from the entrance gate. The last grave nearest the outside limit is Willie's grave. "Sunday August 11 - I was at Sunday school at the usual hour of the morning contributed 5 cts. Before entering the room I called at the grave of poor little Willie. His grave appears to me as very lonesome. I wish I was able to put up a small tombstone someday. I hope to do this. His grave may be found by passing through the cemetery straight west from the entrance gate. The last grave nearest the outside limit is Willie's grave."
William Franklin "Willie" Stump was born 9 May 1874 in Montgomery County to Wesley Stump and an unknown woman. At age 2 1/2 Hiram Pratt's wife, Eliza Shaw Pratt and a friend went to visit the Montgomery County Poor Farm. They had no children and when visiting, she and Willie nurtured a complete and wonderful bond. Soon after, Hiram and Eliza "adopted" Willie as their foster son and raised him. Whether it was ever a court adoption, I'm not sure, but he was raised as Willie Pratt and died as such. He grew-up in a solid church environment, was high in academics, played piano and a juice harp. However, when he was 12, Eliza died of six large stomach tumors. From then on, Willie went down hill. He was sent to reform school for stealing $2 from Hiram's second wife, Eva McMains. His sentence was a year in Michigan City but because he was only 17, the term was to stay at the Pendelton Reformatory until age 21. He only served about two years, came home, was a good man and died of consumption just short of his 21st birthday in Hiram's arms. Many times Hiram Pratt says in the 14 existing diaries of his that he visited "Little Willie's grave." Here is proof as to its location in the Methodist Cemetery. Sunday August 11 - I was at Sunday school at the usual hour of the morning contributed 5 cts. Before entering the room I called at the grave of poor little Willie. His grave appears to me as very lonesome. I wish I was able to put up a small tombstone someday. I hope to do this. His grave may be found by passing through the cemetery straight west from the entrance gate. The last grave nearest the outside limit is Willie's grave. "Sunday August 11 - I was at Sunday school at the usual hour of the morning contributed 5 cts. Before entering the room I called at the grave of poor little Willie. His grave appears to me as very lonesome. I wish I was able to put up a small tombstone someday. I hope to do this. His grave may be found by passing through the cemetery straight west from the entrance gate. The last grave nearest the outside limit is Willie's grave."
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